Kenny Uzoigwe, a forward with the Michigan Bucks professional soccer team in Pontiac, is the new Lapeer West High School boys’ varsity and girls’ junior varsity soccer coach.Uzoigwe, a prolific scorer with several professional soccer teams, is a graduate of the University of Toledo.
At a high school known for its American football, Uzoigwe wants to bring a level of excellence to the other “football.”
“What I want to do is build the program and it’s not going to happen overnight,” Coach Uzoigwe said. “It’s a development process.”
With a retired professor as a father, Uzoigwe understands the term “student-athlete.”
“Education is very important, you play the sport, but you have to make sure you have a good education and a degree to fall back on,” Coach Uzoigwe said. “I am very excited about this opportunity.”
In 2007, Uzoigwe was the Most Valuable Player on the Michigan Bucks team. He has also played for the Major League Soccer Colorado Rapids Reserve team, the United Soccer League Division 1 Charleston Battery and the Toledo Slayers of the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League. He was a goal scoring finalist, member of a PDL Championship team, selected to the PDL All Conference Team, All-Star, All-American teams in consecutive years and was the PDL Conference Leading Goal Scorer in 2006.
He has helped coach at Lake Orion High School, at the Lake Orion Soccer Club and is employed by the Michigan Bucks to conduct youth summer camps as well as play.
“We are very excited to welcome Coach Uzoigwe to the Lapeer West athletic team,” said Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Mary Haslinger. Uzoigwe is married. He and his wife, Melissa Wright, live in Auburn Hills with their twin son and daughter.
